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Larong Pinoy

A few decades
ago, kids used to gather in the streets or in the neighborhood playground to
play their favorite Larong Pinoy. It is an important part of growing up; it
also teaches camaraderie and sportsmanship. Some games are physically
challenging, some are intellectually stimulating. Traditional Filipino street
games are commonly played using native materials but since there is a limited
resource of toys, Filipino children usually come up on inventing games without
the need of anything but the players themselves.

With the
increasing popularity of western sports activities like basketball and
volleyball and the emergence of high tech gadgets, children playing traditional
street games gradually reduced. If only we could revive it and maintain it,
children of today can reap the benefits of playing these games - a positive
influence on our physical, mental and emotional well being.

According to
Magna Kultura Foundation, Larong Pinoy fosters appreciation of national culture
especially the new generation. Through play, children can experience the
Filipino spirit and in fun way, it instills patriotism.

The following
are popular Filipino Games we used to play growing up:

1. Chinese Garter – two people hold both ends of a stretched
garter while the other attempt to cross over it. The goal is to cross without
having tripped on the garter

2. Sipa

3. Luksong Tinik,
Luksong Lubid, Luksong Baka

4. Jack en Poy

5. Tumbang Preso

6. Taguan

7. Patintero

8. Sawsaw Suka – the “it” has his palm open while the other players touch this with their index fingers singing “sawsaw suka, mahuli taya”. The”it” tries to catch any player’s finger at the end of the song; the caught one becomes the new “it”

9. Pitik Bulag

10. Teks or texted game cards

11. Bahay-bahayan – a role playing game where children act as members of an imaginary family. They act various household situations such as dinner, going to mass and the like